Jesse (/ ˈdʒɛsi / JESS-ee) or Yishai[a][b] is a figure described in the Hebrew Bible as the father of David, who became the king of the Israelites. His son David is sometimes called simply "Son of Jesse" (Ben Yishai). The role as both father of King David and ancestor of Jesus has been used in various depictions in art, poetry and music e.g.

Understanding the Context

as the Tree of Jesse or in hymns like " Lo, how a ... Jesse is a name that effortlessly bridges the gap between rugged, Wild West coolness and gentle, biblical tradition. It manages to feel both like a cowboy outlaw name, thanks to the infamous Jesse James, and a soft, soulful choice with deep roots. For decades, it has been the quintessential “friendly guy” name: approachable, unpretentious, and timeless.

Key Insights

Historically, Jesse is synonymous ... Jesse, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), the father of King David. Jesse was the son of Obed and the grandson of Boaz and Ruth. He was a farmer and sheep breeder in Bethlehem. David was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons.

Final Thoughts

The appellation “son of Jesse” served as a synonym for David, both at Saul ’s court and, subsequently, when David became king. It became a standard poetic metaphor ... Jesse (wealthy), the father of David, was the son of Obed, who again was the fruit of the union of Boaz and the Moabitess Ruth. His great-grandmother was Rahab the Canaanite, of Jericho. (Matthew 1:5) Jesse's genealogy is twice given in full in the Old Testament, viz., (Ruth 4:18-22) and 1Chr 2:5-12 He is commonly designated as "Jesse the Bethlehemite," (1 Samuel 16:1,18; 17:58) but his full ... An indepth look at the meaning and etymology of the awesome name Jesse.

We'll discuss the original Hebrew, plus the words and names Jesse is related to, plus the occurences of this name in the Bible. In the Old Testament Jesse is the father of King David. It began to be used as an English given name after the Protestant Reformation. A famous bearer was Jesse James (1847-1882), an American outlaw who held up banks and stagecoaches.